Guard Shot at Pro-Life Group’s Office Released From Hospital

The Family Research Council announced today that building manager Leo Johnson has been released from the hospital after he was shot by a liberal activist last week at the pro-life group’s D.C. headquarters.

Last week at FRC’s headquarters, Johnson confronted a gunman who pulled a gun from his backpack and aimed the weapon at Leo. Johnson was shot as he moved toward the gunman to disarm him. Despite being shot in the process, Leo was able to subdue the shooter and call for others on the staff, who helped admirably.

“I am thankfully now out of the hospital. My condition continues to improve although it appears another surgery will be needed. I want to thank everyone for the support and prayers during my recovery,” Johnson said. “I thank the media for their interest but ask for their understanding of my family’s desire for privacy as I focus on getting better.”

Family Research Council (FRC) President Tony Perkins previously talked about the recovery progress of long-time FRC staff member.

“We are grateful for the outpouring of prayers and well-wishes for Leo as well as the entire FRC team who have been affected by this attack. It will take time, but he will be back with us soon, for which we are all grateful,” Perkins said.

“We remain in close contact with Leo and his family. Leo asked that we express his appreciation for everyone’s prayers and support. He does not wish to make any further public statements for now and requested that the media respect his privacy as he focuses on healing and getting better,” added Perkins.

A man posing as an intern shot the guard, Leo Johnson, at the FRC office located at 801 G Street, NW. Family Research Council President Tony Perkins confirmed the security officer was shot and said in a statement, “The police are investigating this incident. Our first concern is with our colleague who was shot today. Our concern is for him and his family.”

Additional reports show Johnson was a hero and worked with other guards to apprehend the shooter before more people were attacked. The suspect, a 28-year-old male from Virginia named Floyd Lee Corkins II, said, “Don’t shoot me, it was not about you, it was what this place stands for.” AP later confirmed that Corkins is a liberal activist who volunteers with a left-wing group in the D.C. area.

Now, Corkins has been charged with assault with intent to kill and with bringing a firearm across state lines. According to an FBI affidavit, Corkins allegedly said words to the effect of “I don’t like your politics” when he encountered Johnson.

“The FBI said Corkins had 15 Chick-fil-A sandwiches, a Sig Sauer 9mm pistol, two additional magazines loaded with ammunition and an additional box of 50 rounds of ammunition when he came into the building,” according to a report on the FBI intel. “His parents told the FBI that Corkins “has strong opinions with respect to those he believes do not treat homosexuals in a fair manner.”

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney swiftly commented on the shooting, saying: “I am appalled by the shooting today at the offices of the Family Research Council in our nation’s capital. There is no place for such violence in our society. My prayers go out to the wounded security guard and his family, as well as all the people at the Family Research Council whose sense of security has been shattered by today’s horrific events.”

This is the second time FRC, which used to be a part of Focus on the Family, has been a victim of violence. As Christianity Today reports, “In Colorado Springs, Focus faced a hostage situation in 1994 when a man walked into the building with a handgun, wore a vest he said contained explosive with a message on his chest in red marker. Kerry Steven Dore was a construction worker who was severely injured in 1992 when he fell from a Focus building. ”

“As told in Dale Buss’s Family Man biography of Dobson, employees and visitors were evacuated as Dore took two female receptionists hostage. Two male security guards offered to substitute themselves for the women, but he took them hostage as well. Four hours later, Dore gave himself up and was eventually sent to prison for 32 years for kidnapping,” it indicated.